Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind members and delegates to turn off their mobile phones as interference caused by them affects the transmission of the proceedings.

From the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, I welcome Dr. Adele Bergin, senior research officer, and her colleague, Dr. Kieran McQuinn, research professor. I gather Dr. Martina Lawless who co-authored the research is, unfortunately, unable to attend the hearing, the purpose of which is to examine the detailed analysis of the impact on Ireland of the different types of Brexit. The ESRI and the Department of Finance recently published the detailed analysis. The committee's focus is on the budgetary and fiscal impact of Brexit. Given ongoing events at Westminster, it is timely that we are discussing this topic, although that could probably have been said on any day in the past few weeks. I am grateful to the director of the ESRI, Professor Alan Barrett, for facilitating our request for a meeting on this important research.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I thank Dr. Bergin for attending and invite her to make her opening statement.